Italy Beats Sweden In Davis Cup Finals In Bologna

Fabio Fognini (photo: Brigitte Urban)

BOLOGNA, September 18, 2022

Italy defeated Sweden 2-1 on Sunday in Group A of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals in Bologna. The win means that Croatia is through the Final 8, which takes place in Malaga 22–27 November.

In front of 8,000 Italian fans in the Unipol Arena in Bologna, World No. 15 Matteo Berrettini beat 119th-ranked Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-4 in 75 minutes in the opening singles rubber.

Mikael Ymer leveled tie with an impressive 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Jannik Sinner but Italian veterans Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini won the doubles rubber 7-6, 6-2 over Andre Goransson and Dragos Nicolae Madaras in one hour and 28 minutes.

Sweden, after beating Argentina and then losing to Croatia earlier in the week, needed a 3-0 win in order to qualify for the Final 8. Italy will take on the United States in the quarterfinals.

DAY SIX RESULTS

Group A – Italy defeated Sweden 2-1

Unipol Arena, Bologna, Italy

Matteo Berrettini (ITA) d. Elias Ymer (SWE) 6-4 6-4

Mikael Ymer (SWE) d. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 6-4 3-6 6-3

Simone Bolelli/Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Andre Goransson/Dragos Nicolae Madaras (SWE) 7-6(2) 6-2

Group B – Spain defeated Korea, Republic 3-0

Unipol Arena, Valencia, Spain

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) d. Hong Seong Chan (KOR) 6-1 6-3

Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) d. Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) 6-4 7-6(1)

Marcel Granollers/Pedro Martinez (ESP) d. Nam Ji Sung/Song Min-kyu (KOR) 7-5 3-6 6-1

Group C – Germany defeated Australia 2-1

Am Rothenbaum, Hamburg, Germany

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) d. Max Purcell (AUS) 6-1 7-5

Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d. Oscar Otte (GER) 7-6(6) 6-1

Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz (GER) d. Matthew Ebden/Max Purcell (AUS) 6-4 6-4

Group D – Great Britain defeated Kazakhstan 2-1

Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Great Britain

Andy Murray (GBR) d. Dmitry Popko (KAZ) 6-4 6-4

Alexander Bublik (KAZ) d. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-4 6-3

Joe Salisbury/Neal Skupski (GBR) d. Alexander Bublik/Aleksandr Nedovyesov (KAZ) 7-6(2) 6-7(9) 7-6(4)

The following teams have secured a place at the Final 8 knockout stage in Malaga on 22-27 November:

Italy (Group A winners)

Croatia (Group A runners-up)

Spain (Group B winners)

Canada (Group B runners-up)

Germany (Group C winners)

Australia (Group C runners-up)

Netherlands (Group D winners)

USA (Group D runners-up)

FINAL 8 SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals

Tuesday 22 November (1600 CET/1500 GMT) – Australia v Netherlands

Wednesday 23 November (1600 CET/1500 GMT) – Croatia v Spain

Thursday 24 November (1000 CET/0900 GMT) – Italy v USA

Thursday 24 November (1600 CET/1500 GMT) – Germany v Canada

Semifinals

Friday 25 November (1600 CET/1500 GMT) – Australia/Netherlands v Croatia/Spain

Saturday 26 November (1300 CET/1200 GMT) – Italy/USA v Germany/Canada

Davis Cup final

Sunday 27 November (1300 CET/1200 GMT) – Winner Semifinal 1 v Winner Semifinal 2